Mangalore SEZ which is being developed jointly by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals, Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services and the Karnataka Government proposes to invest INR 4,000 crore to INR 4,500 crore in converting petcoke into energy and high value chemicals for its potential consumers, especially petroleum based industries.

Overseas companies including Shell, Linde Gas have already evinced interest in the project.

MRPL has agreed to supply one million tonne of petcoke annually to Mangalore SEZ for this energy conversion effort.

A 200 MW power project based on integrated gas combined cycle technology is to be set up and the power will be supplied within the Mangalore SEZ. The petcoke in the gasification process will also consume fly ash from the nearby thermal power plant.

The Mangalore SEZ has appointed US based Fluor Enterprises as technical consultant for the petcoke-based power and high chemicals project. Fluor Enterprises is expected to carry out a feasibility study for the project by February 2010. Moreover, Fluor will also assist the Mangalore SEZ for the selection of BOOT operator for the development of the project.

(Sourced from Project Today)